Neil Petruic signs in Hamilton

MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced on Friday the signing of free agent defenseman Neil Petruic to an AHL contract. The 28-year-old blue-liner will join the Canadiens at training camp on Friday afternoon.

The 6-foot-1 rearguard split last season between Binghamton (AHL), Manitoba (AHL) and Victoria (ECHL). In 42 AHL games in 2009-10, Petruic picked up two goals and four assists.

Drafted 235th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2001, Petruic then went on to suit up for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for the next four years.

Since making the jump to the pro ranks in 2005, the Regina native has played 231 AHL games for the B-Sens and Moose, along with stints in Victoria, Charlotte and Stockton in the ECHL and a season patrolling the blue line for Bolzano in Italy.